Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options

Amount
Accom modation
Services
Grade
Rate
: 7 crores
: Bungalows, Conference halls, bar and resort
: Elephant and other safaris
: 3-star
: 800 per day per person- single room/ cottage (US
$235 is the proposed tariff of the single occupancy
which excludes food and drinks and other
expenses in the resort)
Parties to agreement : PCCF, Chief Wildlife Warden, Taj Group of Hotels
The proposed Taj Resort at Murkal in Nagarahole is attempting to cash in
on the novelty of "luxury wildlife tourism" by building a three star resort in a
National Park. In their brochure, the hotel group states, "presenting India's
finest wildlife lodge located in India's first biosphere reserve ... The Getaway
Tusker Lodge, set inside the Nagarhole National Park offers various kinds
of accommodation beautifully designed and equipped with modern
facilities like individual sit outs and attached bathrooms. There are 36
Deluxe rooms, 6 terrace suites, 9 cottage suites and 4 standard rooms. For
dining the Lodge has a dining room that extends out onto the deck and
serves Indian and International cuisine. "The other facilities that are to be
offered are a lounge cum library, a lobby bar open all day for drinks and
snacks, shop selling eco-friendly handicrafts, apparel and souvenirs. The
Taj Group states, "the serene setting ofthe lodge amidst nature also makes
it an excellent location for strategy meetings and small reflective
conferences. The Lodge has a large conference room .... audio visual
equipment including a slide projector, overhead projector, photocopier, fax
facilities, T. V, video and other state of the art equipment is available.
Commitment to the Environment The focus has been to ensure that no
resources are used from the local forest and the wood used in the hotel
structure has been imported from Malaysia.
The other aspects looked into by the Taj team was to ensure its objective
of eco-friendliness in the following areas:
E.qwnlCm
Ni/agiris : Fading Glory 34